I use the Waterworks 3.5 ULA Force on my 8# and 9# and it comes in a little heavy. I prefer to use this set up for sight casting fish - rather than blind casting for any lengthy sessions.
Not sure how the litespeed balances an 8# - only that it is a tad lighter than the ULA Force.

Loop evotec 8-eleven (or 8- twelve as it is now) has just as large an arbour and is lighter than all the rest (6.5 oz). It doesn't have any plastic on / in it either, as far as I know.